SLC WANTS BOTH UNDER ONE CODE

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) last week said they had taken up the recent controversy surrounding commercial managers being employed by national cricketers with the International Cricket Council (ICC) where it had proposed to bring commercial managements under the players’ code of conduct as a solution.

President of SLC, Deputy Speaker, Thilanga Sumathipala made this comment when inquired by the Nation concerning the issue on social media, specifically regarding an individual named Charlie Austin, who is reported to be a foreign national managing the commercial interests of certain national cricketers, and allegations of him interfering with the SLC by way of exercising and wielding undue influence over the SLC, the Sri Lankan Cricket Team, and the selection of players to the latter.

Sumathipala further added that SLC was presently seeking potential solutions in this regard via ongoing discussions conducted with the players and their managers.

He highlighted that although there was a complete lack of evidence to prove that any wrongdoing as had been alleged had taken place, the public perception created by the furore over the allegations that the commercial managers of players were and are interfering with and influencing the selection of players, the management of SLC and the Captain, was detrimental to the “credibility” of all involved and ultimately “bad for the game”.

“Therefore measures have to be taken to lift the public’s confidence,” he explained.
A report regarding the matter has since been given by SLC to Minister of Sports, Dayasiri Jayasekara.

The Nation had emailed Charlie Austin to query on the issue. However, he had not responded till the time this edition went to press.